Online support for businesses hurting from COVID-19

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Several local organizations are providing online support for Strathmore businesses reeling from the impacts of COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced business closures, destroyed jobs, devastated markets, and changed consumer behaviour and spending. That means that for many area businesses, the future is uncertain at best.
But help is underway, as several regional organizations have already provided local businesses with new resources during these tumultuous times, including online resources for entrepreneurs to hone new skills, develop partnerships and share knowledge so they have a fighting chance.
“Businesses in Strathmore aren’t just employers and investors, they’re part of our culture,” said Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule. “We’re working hard to help all our businesses weather this storm.”
Strathmore town council has enacted policy initiatives to support local businesses, including a suspension on late penalties on tax and utility payments until May 31 to free cash flow for businesses. Town administration is currently pursuing additional policy actions to support businesses, which will be announced and implemented during the beginning of April.
The Town of Strathmore is helping businesses navigate aid programs provided by the provincial and federal governments, including the staffing of a business hotline from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday, with a “target launch date” of April 3. The hotline can be reached at 403-361-2138.
Wheatland County is working alongside the Town of Strathmore, Bow Valley College and Community Futures, a non-profit business development organization, to help businesses throughout the region, said Wheatland County Reeve Amber Link.
“We are hoping to all mobilize together so we can support our businesses,” said Link.
Infinite WC has been developing content for the business community, including a data page with some of the county’s GIS (spatial) data, and is working with Grow With Google to “utilize and promote Google support services for businesses as they roll out during the crisis,” said Link.
Strathmore Economic Development is looking to provide businesses an overview of the resources available to them, said Charles Procter, planner with the Town of Strathmore infrastructure and development services.
“Our goals right now in economic development are to share information about upcoming tools, platforms (and) digital resources that people have access to,” said Procter.
On March 25, the group provided a seminar hosted by Wendy Gerbrandt with Community Futures to walk entrepreneurs through how to set up an ecommerce website for their business, he said.
Wheatland County provided a conference webinar on March 26 for businesses to share information about what could be done to adapt, network and support regional businesses challenged by the ongoing pandemic.
The Strathmore Entrepreneur Centre at Bow Valley College is providing a series of virtual workshops “to support training and knowledge sharing” throughout the local business community. These virtual business cafes, held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Wednesdays throughout April, aim to provide casual and open-ended conversation about facing challenges, finding resources and developing new approaches.
On Facebook, the response included the creation of a COVID-19 Strathmore Business Information group dedicated to “keeping Strathmore and area connected during the COVID-19 pandemic with open communication between businesses and consumers,” which now has almost 2,000 members. It features multiple daily posts on business statuses, available support programs and services, and descriptions of how businesses are working to protect workers and the public from the virus.